A new proposal by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to introduce a new rule changing the placement of nutritional labels on food packaging.
According to the press release, as chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease continue to rise among the U.S. population, relocating nutritional labels to the front of packages is intended to encourage more health-conscious shopping habits.
Under the new rule, food manufacturers would be required to display labels on the front of the packaging, indicating whether the product’s saturated fat, sodium, and sugar content is low, medium, or high. These labels would supplement the existing information found on the back of the packaging. If implemented, consumers could begin seeing these front-of-package labels as early as 2028.
FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf and American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown shared their support for the proposal in separate statements.
“The science on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars is clear,” said Califf. “Nearly everyone knows or cares for someone with a chronic disease that is due, in part, to the food we eat. It is time we make it easier for consumers to glance, grab and go. Adding front-of-package nutrition labeling to most packaged foods would do that. We are fully committed to pulling all the levers available to the FDA to make nutrition information readily accessible as part of our efforts to promote public health.”
“By proposing front-of-pack labeling in the United States, the FDA is taking an important step to make nutrition information clearer and more accessible, and to empower consumers to make informed choices for their health and the health of their families,” said Brown. “For decades, the Nutrition Facts label has been an essential tool to educate people across the country about the nutritional content of their food and drinks, but high rates of diet-related illnesses continue to show that additional actions are needed to address the confusion and barriers consumers face in evaluating and identifying better options.”
The proposal outlines a phased timeline for implementation. Businesses with annual food sales exceeding $10 million would have three years to comply, while smaller businesses would have four years.
This initiative is part of the White House’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which aims to reduce food-related chronic diseases in the U.S. by 2030. Similar measures have already been implemented in countries such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.
The FDA has opened a public comment period on the proposal, which will remain open until May 16, 2025.
The public can submit comments in a comment period that will last until May 16.
